About

Cam Douglas & Yvonne Leicht are teachers & community activists from Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Our daughter Kaia is 13 and son Jake is 12. We are travelling from Sept 2014 to June 2015, in search of sustainability practice, people and places. We hope to visit, learn of, and document innovative or otherwise effective examples of environmental leadership (big or small) through renewable energy & conservation, sustainable urban transportation & design, sustainable food production & water use, biodiversity conservation & protection of indigenous peoples, sustainable (“eco”?) tourism, and less consumer-oriented living.

Our journey is loosely inspired by Chris Turner’s book “The Geography of Hope – A Tour of the of the world we need“. Chris points out in compelling fashion that all the pieces of a sustainable future already exist … just not all in once place. The puzzle needs to be put together.

We plan to share our year’s experiences through writing, photo, video & speaking. This blog represents the “rough cut” of writing & photo. We welcome comments, and especially suggestions re. where we should go and who we should meet with. Our flight itinerary is now set, and is shared in our 1st post.

We are also producing a set of video vignettes focussed on different aspects of sustainabililty. These are being prepared for grade 7 to 9 classrooms and Kaia and Jake are the hosts of the series. Series episodes will include for example sustainable transportaion, ecotourism, biodiversity conservation, water conservation, climate change impacts on coral reefs, and renewable energy.

P.S. – we’re looking for a good tree planting project to try to offset our rather considerable flight carbon. Like maybe most of Borneo? Seriously though … we are open to suggestions!

Dear Cam, Yvonne, Kaia and Jake,
Have a great time! I love the ecological basis for your trip and pray for your safety. I will be following your progress closely and admit I’m more than somewhat envious of the wonderful learning experience you will be having.

Hi Douglas family,
Great comments and photos of your bicycle tour of Portland which seems very much like Amsterdam where bicycles rule much like horses in the Old West.
Have fun in Costa Rica!
David F.

Hi there – What an exciting adventure! When I was in NZ I tree-planted with the Manawa Karioi Society, which is dedicated to restoring native forest around the Tapu Te Ranga Marae in Island Bay, Wellington. It was a fantastic experience. If you’d like to know more, go to http://www.mk.org.nz/. Safe travels!

I saw your 1 year 1 family 1 world scribbled on the fridge in red marker pen, in a lovely wooden hostel the name escapes me near Manuel Antonia.. I praise you for your adventure and you certainly are living the dream xx Good on you xx

Cam and Yvonne, It has been such a very long time since I saw you!!! I have been following the blog – what a great year you have had – what great energy the family has! It has been very fun following the adventures. I am sure the next few weeks will be bittersweet with the end of such a great year and the excitement of coming home. Enjoy!

Hi Cameron,
My name is Jessica Correa and I have launched an initiative called PTBO Random Acts of Green. The blog you have here is something we would love to share on our page. If you are interested, please check out @ptboraog and PTBO Random Acts of Green on Facebook. I was recommended by Javier Zamacona to take a look at your work. Please also feel free to e-mail me at jessicacorrea@trentu.ca.